Sri Lanka Faces Protests Over Rohingya Refugee Deportation

Sri Lankan civil society groups are mobilizing to protect over 100 Rohingya refugees rescued off Indian Ocean island nation last month, Arab News reported. Following the government’s announcement on January 3 regarding potential deportation talks with Myanmar, protests erupted in Mullaitivu and Colombo. Activists emphasize that these refugees, including many children, are stateless and fleeing persecution.

Social activist Thasneema Dahlan stated, “These are stateless people; they don’t have a home to go to.” The Rohingya, described by the UN as the “world’s most persecuted minority,” have faced years of oppression in Myanmar, with over 730,000 fleeing to Bangladesh in 2017 due to a military crackdown.

Sri Lanka, not a signatory to the 1951 UN Refugee Convention, serves as a transit point for refugees awaiting resettlement. Activists are urging the government to relocate the refugees from a military base, citing humanitarian concerns and the need for civil administration in their care.